Printing-machine.



W. A. SORG &'E. DUSGHER.

PRINTING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1911.

1,044,097, I Patented Nov. 12,1912.

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PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

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WILLIAM A. SORG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND ERNEST DUSCHER, OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED STATES'PRINTOGRAPH COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 13, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 638,388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. Sons and Ennnsr DUSCHER, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, and at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Gur invention relates to improvements in printing machines particularly those in which a revoluble platen is carried across the face of a type form resting on a suitable type bed to form an impression upon a sheet of paper lying between the platen and the type.

The object of our invention is to produce a uniform impression of the type in all parts of the type form particularly when the arrangement of the type is irregular in the chase as is commonly the casein a tabulated form.

More particularly the object of our invention is to provide a convenient means for reducing the pressure of a platen upon the type at any desired part of its travel by adjusting accurately its elevation above the level of the face of the type and its consequent pressure thereon at either end of the platen. g

It is a well known fact that in the operation of machines of the class described, slight irregularities in the positioning of isolated type and in the distribution of type in the chase produces a black faced type impression or in extreme cases produces an injury in the paper being printed. By use of our device the impression made by the platen passing over the type may be regulated as closely as desired, the elevation of the eX- tremities of the platen being adjustable to the thickness of a thin sheet of paper.

In the drawings with which we have illustrated our device and which form part of our specification, Figure 1 is a plan of a printing machine equipped with our tabulating rails; Fig. 2 is a section on the line XX, Fig. 1 and shows'the tabulating rails in section upon the machine; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the tabulating rail supported on the bed of the machine which is shown in section; Fig. 1 is a fragmentary bottom View of the rail as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 illustrates the steel ribbon used in connection with the tabulating rail; Fig. 6 is a plan of a tabulated type-form and the tabulating rails used in connection with it, showing the adjustment of the rails for such a form, and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing an 1alternative construction of the t-abulating rai In the above drawings we have shown a printing machine of the class described in the application of William A. Sorg, Serial No. 437,302, for printing presses, filed June 8, 1909. A framework 2 is shown carrying a type bed- 3 on which rests a form A made up of a type holder or chase 4 containing lines of types 5 which may be in tabulated form as shown in Fig.6where the lines 6 are shown shorter than the lines 7, and where other irregularities in the positioning and distribution of the types 5 may occur] On the frame 2 are ournaled the shafts 8 and 9, which carry sprockets 10 fitted to suitably drive chains 11, the shaft 9 serving as a drive shaft in operating the drive chain 11. A handle 12 is shown to operate the drive shaft 9 although any suitable application of power may be substituted therefor. The shafts 8 and 9 are journaled at opposite ends of the frame 2 and the drive chains 11 positioned at opposite sides of the frame and outside of the type bed extend across the frame and above and below the plane of the type form resting upon the bed 3. A revoluble impression roller or platen 13 having a resilient pressure face is journaled 'on1a shaft 14: which is mounted rotatably in suitable bearings 15 fixed upon the two drive chains 11 transversely of the machine and is adapted to be carried by the drive chains through an orbital path extending about the type form A above and below the same.

A suitable ribbon 16 is shown in Fig. 1 passing over the face of the type in the chase t and around rollers 17 mounted on the frame and suitable winding rollers 18 and 19 which are connected by a chain of gears 20 with the drive shaft 9 for the purpose of producing a movement ofthe ribbon across the face of the type laterally upon the machine. The ribbon 16 lies upon the type and between the type and the platen 13, when the platen passes over the form A.

For the purposes of printing, the sheet to be printed is placed upon the ribbon 16, and the platen 13 is passed over it impressing the paper upon the type in the chase and transferring coloring matter from the ribbon to the face of the paper to be printed. The platen 13 in moving across the form A is normally held in position by the sprocketdrive chains 11 by which it is advanced, bearing upon a slide-way 21 on the frame 2. In order to produce a suflicient pressure of the platen upon the type at all times a pressure bar 22 is placed at each side of the machine supported by transverse supports 23 mounted upon the frame 2. End pieces 24 fixed on the pressure bars 22 are vertically movable on posts 25 mounted in the supports 23. A spring bar 26 is positioned above the support 23 and rests upon the end pieces 24 of the pressure bars. Pressure is applied to the spring bar 26 and thence to the pressure bars 22 by bolts 27 passing through the spring bar 26 which is retained thereon by adjustable nuts 28. Upon the top of the supports 23 at each end of the machine are a pair of connected draw shoulders 29 having beveled faces 30 directed in the same direction on all the shoulders and inserted beneath the ends 24 of the pressure bars to determine their elevation above the supports 23. A rock shaft 31 is journaled on the side of the frame 2 and carries near its ends arms 32 engaging a notch 33 in the draw bars 34 which are connected with the draw shoulders 29. A handle 35 mounted on the shaft 31 may be operated to rotate the shaft to position the draw shoulders beneath the pressure bars. The handle 35 has a pivot connection 36 by means of which it can be folded back against the machine as shown in Fig. 1 when notin use.

Anti-friction wheels 37 are journaled on the ends of the shaft 14 and lie beneath the pressure bars 22 at the two sides of the machine. The pressure of the springs 26 acting through the pressure bars 22 serves to maintain the platen 13 in printing relation with the form A. At each side of the machine between the chase 4 and the line of the pressure bar 22 is mounted our tabulating rail or guide B. The tabulating rail B consists of a longitudinally extending bar 40 of substantially rectangular cross-section, mounted upon the type bed 3 by means of bolts 41 and extending beyond the type bed at each end of the machine. The platen 13 is formed at each end with a cylindrical bearing surface 43 which rests upon the upper surface 44 of the tabulating rail and travels along it while traversing the form A on the type bed. The upper surface of the rail B is formed with rounded ends 45 adapted to receive the platen in its orbital path and to bring it into the correct relation with the type of the form A.

The rail B supports the platen 13 during its movement across the type and opposes the downward pressure exerted by the pressure bars 22 upon the shaft 14. Adjustable stop screws 46 extend vertically through the rails B and rest upon the type bed 3. A spring 47 is fastened to the rail by means of a screw 48 and has a lug 49 at its extremity resting against each stop screw 46 maintaining it in position during the operation of the machine. By means of the stop screws 46 the elevation of the bars B above the type bed and the type form resting on the bed may be adjusted to a normal path so that the pressure of 'theplaten in passing over a normal form under the pressure of the pressure bars will produce the desired indentation of the printed impression in the printed sheet. Coiled springs 50 lie between the rails B and the type bed 3 surrounding the bolts 41. The bottoms of the springs 50 rest in sockets 51 in the type bed 3 into which they maybe compressed. The springs 50 are sufliciently strong to raise the platen from the type when the pressure of the pres sure bars 22 has been removed by the opera tion of the handle 35, and are compressed by the action of the pressure bars when exerted upon the platen in the normal position of the handle 35 as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper surface 44 of each rail B is provided with a steel ribbon 52 of the form illustrated in Fig. 5. The ribbon 52 is a thin flexible piece of steel covering the entire top side 44 of the bar B. It is attached to one end of the bar by means of a screw 53 and to the opposite end by means of a spring tightener 54 which has a head 55 extending through the ribbon and engaging a slot 56 therein. The tightener 54 is attached to the bottom of the bars B at its end by a screw 57 and is pressed downward by a coiled spring 58 thus serving to maintain the steel ribbon stretched tightly but adjustably upon the surface 44 of the rail. The action of the spring tightener 54 allows the ribbon to be raised slightly from the surface of the rail B without straining the ribbon and to resume its closely fitting position upon the rail when released. The ribbon serves as a tread for the bearing surface 43 of the platen in its travel along the tabulating rail B.

hen the distribution of type '5 in a chase 4 is irregular there are frequently points on the form where the number of types 5 supporting the platen in any one position is greatly reduced and the normal pressure of the platen exerted on this number of types produces too great an indenta tion and (color transfer) inking at these points. To produce a normal pressure of the platen on thejtypes at such points it is necessary to lift the platen slightly for a short distance along its pat-h of travel when the resilience of the platen face and other parts of the mechanism will cause a sufiicient indentation. It is necessary to make this adjustment at each end of the platen according to the positioning of the types in the form.

The change in the path of travel of the platen is secured by lifting the ribbon 52 from the face of the tabulating rail at the points at which a decreased pressure on the type form is desired. This elevation of the steel ribbon is secured in practice by inserting between the ribbon and the surface of the rail B a piece or pieces of paper or other suitable material until the required adjustment of pressure has been secured. The width and thickness of the pieces of paper used may be varied to meet the adjustment of platen pressure desired.

In the type form illustrated in Fig. 6 a tabulated arrangement of the type is shown with long lines 7 and short lines 6 of type. The lines are even on the side 60 of the form leaving the blank space 61 without type. hen the platen under pressure adjusted to the type in the filled ends of the lines 6 and 7 moves over the opposite side of the form where the space 61 occurs, the pressure of the platen is concentrated upon the type in that end of the lines 6 producing heavy inking and deep indentation of the type in the printed paper particularly in the line 7 adjacent to the space 61. To overcome this action of the platen, pieces of paper 63 shown in Fig. 6 are introduced between the ribbon 52 and the face 44: of the tabulating rail B. These pieces of paper elevate the ribbon 52 in a manner similar to that shown at the point 64 on Fig. 3. The bearing face 43 of the platen in passing over the ribbon of the tabulating rail at the point 63 is raised by the paper thus counter-acting the pressure which would normally be brought to bear on type in the space 61.

In Fig. 6 fillers similar to the papers 63 are shown at other points on the tabulating rail illustrating the manner in which the pressure of the platen may be adjusted at different points on the form as required to produce a uniform printing impression.

In operating our device the rails B are placed upon the machine as shown and the stop screws 46 are adjusted to produce a uniform pressure of the platen on a type form resting on the type bed 3 under normal condition. Adjustment of the pressure bars 22 is also made and the machine is operated in a manner similar to that set forth in the application Serial No. 437,302 mentioned on page 1 of this specification. Having set up a form A and placed it upon the type bed 3 a proof is taken in the usual manner. Examination of the proof will at once show whether there is any necessity for adjusting the pressure of the platen 13. Fillers 63 of paper which can be conveniently secured from the stock paper can be placed where the pressure needs to be relieved and a new proof can then be taken from the form. In this way by the use of thin paper the adjustment of the pressure on the type may be made as accurate as described.

In the alternative form C of rail, shown in Fig. 7, springs 65 are shown attached to the bottom side of the rail 0 and rest upon the type bed 3. These springs are adapted to raise the platen 13 (not shown) ofi from the form when relieved from the pressure bars. The rail G is attached to the type bed 3 by a stud bolt 66 fixed in the rail and ad justable in the type bed by means of nuts 67 to limit the upward movement of the rail. Adjusting studs 68 thread through the type bed 3 and bear against the springs 65 to adjust them and are fixed in position by locknuts 69. The action of this rail is identical with rail B as described.

In both the preferred and alternative constructions described the surface at of each rail B below the ribbon 52 which it carries is serrated at 73 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 7) for the purpose of preventing the pieces of paper 63 from moving out of position between the ribbon and surface 44 during the operation of the machine.

In accordance with the patent statutes we have described the principles of operation of our invention together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but we desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class set forth, a type form having types therein, a revoluble platen cooperating with said types to make a printed impression, said platen having a resilient surface adapted to indent said type into a sheet of paper in making a printing impression, a guide adjustably supported adj oining said form, a flexible ribbon mounted upon said guide and adapted to carry said platen across the face of said type in a normal path, separate means cooperating with said ribbon for varying said path in its difierent parts to lessen said indentation of the types in difierent parts of said form, means for securing the ends of said ribbon over the ends of said rail and means for adjusting the tension of said ribbon.

2. In a device of the class set forth, a pair of printing elements having a movement relative to each other to produce a printing impression, a guide rail in detachable con nection with one of said elements for the other thereof, a flexible guide ribbon over the surface of said rail, means varying the form of said ribbon to vary the path of one of said printing elements for the variation of said impression, means for securing the ends of said ribbon over the ends of said rail and means for adjusting the tension of said ribbon.

3. In a printing press, a pair of printing elements, means for operating said elements to make a printing impression between them, a guide rail in adjustable connection with one of said elements adapted to determine the path of the other of said elements with relation to said first element in printing, a flexible guide ribbon adapted to form a tread for and guide said other element in a modified path to modify said impression, means for securing the ends of said ribbon over the ends of said rail and means for adjusting the tension of said ribbon.

at. A guide rail for a traveling platen, comprising, a body portion extending along the path of travel of said platen, a flexible and flat guide ribbon resting freely on said body portion and supporting said platen in the normal path thereof and adapted to be adjusted upon said body to modify the path of said platen and means for adjusting the tension of said ribbon.

5. A guide rail for a traveling platen, comprising, a body portion adapted to extend along the path of travel of said platen, a flexible guide ribbon resting freely on said body portion and adapted to form a tread for said platen in the normal path thereof and adapted to be adjusted upon said body to modify the path of said platen, means for attaching one end of said ribbon over one end of said rail and means for adjustably securing the other end of said ribbon over the opposite end of said rail whereby the tension of said ribbon may be tightened.

, In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

lVILLIAM A. SORG. ERNEST DUSCHER. lVitnesses as to William A. Sorg:

H. L. F rsonnn, M. C. ADAMS. WVitnesses as to Ernest Duscher:

G. O. LUNDGREN, EUGENE OLSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

